Who are we?
We are a bunch of determined adults and skaters who realise the huge benefits of skating and wheeled sports to our local young people and diverse community. We've come together to get Sixpenny Handley a brilliant new skatepark. We've already raised over £6k through local fundraising activities - but now we need your help to raise more money to help us unlock grants.
Why are we crowdfunding?
The total cost for the park is expected to be c. £250k. Any extra funds raised will help us build more of the project - it will also count towards match funding for larger amounts from grant funders. We believe we can unlock at least 10% of the expected total, $25k so every penny counts. We need to keep pushin' and rollin' to build the park.
After many years of use, our skatepark is much loved but, limited in who can use it. The half pipe is challenging and the surface around the rail prevents all but the most skilled riders being able to use it. We have a passionate and active local wheeled community of young skaters, scooters and BMXers. Due to the very limited public transport (3 buses a day and none at weekends), our young people are trapped without mum/dad taxis and would love to have somewhere local that they can freely use. We want to create a local park they can use safely and be proud of - AND making it accessible to all physical abilities and skills as well as enabling wider community benefit, making Sixpenny Handley an even better place to live.
Want we want to do
This is a once in a generational opportunity to do something brilliant in a real, but remote, Dorset community, that will be enjoyed for decades to come - not just by locals, but by young and old all over Cranborne Chase, Chalk Valley, Dorset and beyond.
The existing skatepark in Sixpenny Handley was built nearly two decades ago and has been a well-used public space. But the current metal and tarmac skatepark is now reaching its end of use and a new fit-for-purpose area for wheeled sports is much needed. Although the cost of a new concrete park is high, this would be a park that would last and a re-design would open up the opportunity to make it multi-use - more suitable for more wheeled sports like in-line skates, BMX and scooters. These sporting activities are also relatively low-cost at the outset for participants, and use of the park would be free providing the potential for inclusion and access across our whole community.
How we’ll spend the money raised
This funding is for is to increase our finances for match funding and the initial outlays such as Planning application and initial site access ground works. We are talking to funders and the local authorities and will be making grant applications, with an overall target of £250,000.00 to develop a concrete park that our community can be proud to have.
Community impact
Sixpenny Handley is a village in the remote Cranborne Chase, Dorset, an area of high social deprivation. There are very few local facilities for young people to give them things to do within the parish.
The skatepark is within the Recreation Ground, updating it will increase the use of the excellent sports grounds, encourage more visitors to the area and thereby increase use footfall for local businesses such as the campsite and local shops.
The Sixpenny Handley Recreation Ground, which was extended in the 1990’s to deliver improved sports facilities. It formed a key part of the East Dorset Council plan, Sixpenny Handley was identified as a ‘Social Hub’, having its own surgery, family butcher and Recreation Ground.
The Recreation Ground is ideally situated in a traffic-free location on the edge of the village, and it has been, and still is, a place for gathering, a place to gain new skills, learn, develop, build new relationships and improve health and well-being. Improving the Skatepark is therefore suited to maintaining this forward-thinking community asset.
At Sixpenny Handley, skaters, scooters and BMXers will be able to learn new tricks and hone their skills, friendships will continue to be forged between people. Importantly for our young people, it will remove the feeling of isolation and a greater sense of belonging within our community.
The existing skatepark is difficult to ride for novices and does not have enough variation in tricks and rides as well as being limited to the more experienced riders. It's also no longer fit for purpose and is very limited for all but skateboarders.
With a rebuilt skatepark, skateboards can be shared, older skaters can teach younger on how to build their decks, how to fall safely, essential ‘park etiquette’ and how to be kind, compassionate and encouraging. More importantly it can be used by BMXers, Scooters, in-line skates and more. It will inspire many to learn a new discipline, mentor and help others and provided a space for families to have fun together!
Benefits of a new skatepark in Sixpenny Handley
- Provide an inclusive, safer community hub that's free to all
- Opportunity to improve health and well-being of young people
- Make it more multi-use with better facilities - especially for BMXers and scooters
- Create multi-generational engagement opportunities
- Quieter and more attractive to look at for residents
- Create opportunities to positively impact the local economy
- Reduce offending including nuisance behaviour and minor crime
- Reduce social isolation in the community
- Increase community cohesion by running events, workshops and projects around the skatepark
- Increase access to quality facilities in a remote area
- Develop a better BMX culture with opportunities for young and old to learn new skills and try out cycling
- Put Sixpenny Handley on the 'skate safari' map and encourage sport tourism from areas like Wimborne, Verwood, Blandford, Shaftsbury and beyond.
- Make our young people invested in, excited and happy!
Our young people are excited and aspire to a better skatepark equal to others in other areas of Dorset and the UK. They would love Sixpenny Handley Skatepark to be brilliant and on the 'skate safari' map - adding to the great skateparks across the South West of England. We think they deserve better and hope you do too.
Why Now?
With the inclusion of skateboarding and BMX riding as Olympic sports and then inspired by the diverse and inclusive Commonwealth Games back in 2022, the profile has increased, and many more kids have been inspired to get involved and try these sports out. Skateboarding is for all ages! Just take a look at our Olympic team where the age range is 12 to 49 years old.
New research has also identified the multiple benefits:
“Skateboarding is well known for its physical health benefits, but a recent study has shown that individuals who partake in skating stated that they do so to reduce boredom, provide them with escapism, help them to build confidence and use skateboarding as a coping mechanism for their emotions” Skateboard GB
For BMXers, there is lots of post-Olympic interest but the park is very limited in what it can offer. A new park will offer opportunities to try BMXing, learn new skills and help develop a lifelong love of cycling
PLUS the current park is limited - ramps are challenging to use and limited so Skateboards and Scooters.
How our project will be united by Paris Olympics 2024
It's no accident that the 6dH Skatepark Project really got going following the last Olympic Games and we expect more following the Olympics this year. They inspire us to celebrate the games by working towards better facilities for our young people, dream bigger and leaving a local legacy. We're now making this a reality and, on the journey, to bring people together, improve health and well being , help the village grow and succeed, be a catalyst for change and be on the global stage. We are with our community - and we want you to be too.
What would the improvements look like?
We completed a contract tender to select a skatepark builder to work with, this is Maverick Industries in Poole, a local company for a Dorset Skatepark, but at the same time they are a leading light in the industry. We have always included our young people in the project. They have been fundamental to what we do and how the Skatepark is designed. Based on their input, Maverick Industries have produced a concept design, which the young people and project team have approved. This has created a significantly better layout and strong a fusion of 'street' and 'transition' elements (manual pad/rails/ramp/bowl etc) which will cater for more users at all skill levels. The final design we can implement will depend on the amount of money and grants we receive.
Costs
Estimates are circa £250k! But we think it’s important to go for to get the best possible space for all the community to enjoy - as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Our bigger vision
We also have a bigger vision for the park - as well as opportunities for the young and old people in our area to engage in sports activity, there will be many related cultural opportunities; in the long run, we want to grow the community to be able to provide events, workshops, photography and film making. In particular we want to foster an exciting and positive skate, scooter and BMX culture that gives riders of all ages and abilities the opportunity to learn and positively engage with the sports and build new lifelong relationships. We'll encourage social action and want to appoint ‘skatepark ambassadors’ who will take ownership of ensuring the skatepark is vibrant and well used. The opportunities for developing new skills across our community are huge!
Progress So Far
We have been encouraged by Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge Parish Council to progress with the project and the fact that they are providing the additional ground to extend the Skatepark. We have been fundraising locally and our amazing community has helped us raise over £6000.00 from various events. These include Raffles at the Village Big Session in 2023 and 2024, Quiz night, Christmas Crafts event, Yard and Car Boot Sales and a monthly Meat Raffle at The Penny Tap and even a Dawn to Dusk Enduro Bike race, which is incredible and as a volunteer group we are very thankful for the support that has already been provided.
Co-design with young people
We were keen to get young people involved in the development, build and design of the park and have held events where they've been able to give us their ideas on initial concepts and draw out their ideas for how the park should be. They are on our management board and steering group to ensure we get their input and feedback at every stage, they were heavily involved in the contract tender evaluation and have supported each fundraising event, manning stalls, or selling raffle tickets. With the Chair and Secretary, THEY are the project team!
Why support our crowdfund?
With your support, we can validate our idea and prove that the community wants this to happen. The funds raised can be match funded by organisations like Sport England - doubling our money. We are also using the funds to support our grant applications so that we can achieve our overall target. So your money and support are vital!
If you would like more information, have ideas or can help in any way, please do get in touch.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
With your support, we can validate our idea and prove that the community wants this to happen. The funds raised can be match funded by organisations like Sport England - doubling our money. So your money and support are vital!
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
Our current rewards are:
- 6dH Skatepark Logo Sticker - Pledge £5.00
- 6dH Skatepark Wristband - Pledge £5.00
- Mug with our Logo - Pledge £10.00
- T Shirt - Pledge £10.00
- Hoodie - Pledge £20.00
- Sponsor an Evergreen Bush - Pledge £20
- Sponsor Wild Flowers - £25.00
- Milepost Sign (Small, Medium or Large - (Small £300.00, Medium £500.00, Large £750.00
Wouldn’t it be great to get your skatepark, shop or business noticed by our riders. Then a finger post on our mile post is just the thing. The overall post is made by Sixpenny Forge in collaboration with HOUSENUMBERS to create a finger posts with your name on it.
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
for more information go to 6dHSkatepark.com